In my last poker post, I stated how much I really want to win one of these things before I head back to Atlanta. I have about 4-5 months or so and plan on playing in many-a-tournament. Heading into the last tourney I played, I’d only cashed in 2 of 13 for a measley percentage cash. Well, in my last two, I’m now 2 for 2 and 3 of my last 4. I’d say I’m on a run, but I still have a lot of work to do, and it’d help to gain a little luck.
I took some of that luck honestly to survive in this tournament. We started with 1,500 in chips and 430 players. With about 10 tables left and in mid position, I have A,10 with only 2,200 in chips (and in the 100-200-25 round). I’d have been content stealing the blinds and antes (about 550), but the big blind woke up with KK. Ouch. The flop isn’t bad, QQ10, and the turn brought me a four flush, but the dagger was the river A. Whew! That put me in great shape with about 5,000.
We’re down to 38 players (and they pay the top 36)…the UTG (and chip leader by far) min-raises the 600-1200(200) pot to just 2,500. I am on the button and see QQ. I have 9,000. I could muck and roll into the money; I could smoothe call and see what happens; or I can play poker and go-all-in! I opt for the latter and he takes about 30 seconds and turns over K,10 (and mucks) and I have no problem showing my QQ. If he calls and I go bust, so be it. I don’t want to play ’scared’.
Make the money and they start dropping like flies….unfortunately including me, although I have ZERO regret about my last hand. Still 600-1200(200), so eight handed, there’s 3,400 dead. I’m UTG and pick up KQ off. I have 8,900 and have no problems shipping my chips in. Unfortunately the player on my left who only has 3,000 goes all in…and the guy on his left goes all in after. I’m dead. I put one on a pair and the other on AK. Much much much to my surprise, the guy on my left has 8,8 and the guy that went all in (who had about 18,000 in chips), shoved his chips in with just 3,3!!!! I’m shocked, but VERY VERY pleased actually as BOTH of my cards are live. I’m getting 3:1 on my money and if I win the pot, there’s about 24,000 in there which would leave me slightly above chip average and in good shape to make the final table and win this thing. Unforatunely the 8’s held up as did the 3’s. I went home in 30th place, $700.
As it played out, I liked that situation. I don’t think I could have put 1/2 my chips at risk there with just 3,3. It’s one thing pushing with 3,3, yet another calling with the baby pair. Worked out for him, but not the way I play.
So, the good news is another cash, the bad news is not a big one. But I continue to enhance my tourney play and am a somewhat respectable 27% (4 of 15) cashing in 2007, right about what I did in 2006 (2 of 7, 28%) and continue to gain more tournament experience. There’s another NL335 Thursday I may play in, we’ll see.
Notable players I played against; Dr. Jerry Buss, Owner of the LA Lakers, and Nam Le, who is one helluva poker player, who has over $3.8M in poker winnings versus my $6,000, lol. I did bluff him out of one nice pot, but it was a risky move (as I guess all bluffs are) but I did limp in w/ 6,7 hearts and he raised 4x my call. I called and shoved all in on a 9,5,2 one heart board hoping he had no overpair but just something like an AQ. He mucked and I survived.
Side note, I outlasted exactly 400 people in each tournament. Hm…next one I enter, I need to ensure there are 401 participants.
